Manchester United travel across the city to face Manchester City in the first derby of the Premier League season and Ruben Amorim has some big selection decisions
It’s derby day in Manchester, with Ruben Amorim taking his side to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City on Sunday. It’s a huge game for Manchester United, who are yet to click into gear this season.
Altay Bayindir will start in goal for United, with Andre Onana having left on loan for Trabzonspor and £18.2million arrival Senne Lammens deemed not ready by Amorim. There could be a new goalkeeper for Manchester City, though, with Gianluigi Donnarumma having arrived from Paris Saint-Germain.
United picked up their first win of the season before the two-week international break, beating Burnley 3-2. But those three points came at a cost, with Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount picking up injuries. They will sit out of the City match, with Diogo Dalot also out injured.
It’s crunch time for United against their fiercest rivals and the build-up to the game is dominated by the team’s struggling stars. Here Mirror Football rounds up the latest headlines.
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Fernandes addresses critics
United captain Bruno Fernandes has once again been forced to defend himself over criticism about his style of leadership. The 31-year-old has been targeted for his emotional approach on the pitch, but he says he won’t change.
“People have an opinion about me and I can’t change that,” said Fernandes. “It’s the way people want to judge you about what they see on most of the people, what they see on the pitch, some of them, what they see on the television, some of them what they see on interviews.
“You know, I can’t change that. They have the freedom to think the way they want about me, as I have the same freedom to think about them. But what I don’t do is I don’t judge people until I know them. They can. They can have an opinion about me and that’s fine.”
Bayindir labelled ‘hopeless’
Manchester City could attempt to exploit Bayindir’s weakness from crosses and set pieces in the derby on Sunday afternoon according to Craig Burley.
“With Bayindir, every set-piece I’m putting Haaland and every centre half on him and just swinging it under the crossbar for fun,” Burley told ESPN. “Hell, if Man City have got someone who takes long throws, I’m throwing it in Rory Delap style. I’m just piling it into the box because he’s absolutely hopeless at coming out and dealing with aerial balls – he’s shown that.”
Amorim is confident that Bayindir is up to the task. He said: “We are in the moment that the goalkeeper needs to be really strong and have a lot of experience but we also have to look at the present with a focus on the future so it is a bit of both. He will be ready.”
Sesko tipped to match Haaland
Benjamin Sesko has struggled to make an impact in a Manchester United shirt so far. But Rene Aufhaser, a coach who worked with Sesko and Erling Haaland at Red Bull Salzburg, has backed him to come good.
In an interview with Sky Sports, he said: “Erling Haaland, I will rate him 10 out of 10. I think Erling is [an] outstanding striker and Benji, I think at the moment maybe he’s a nine, nine-and-a-half out of 10. And he has potential.
“He will develop in the next one and two years, I’m sure. Erling reached his mark after his transfer from Dortmund to Man City and we will see. I am quite sure Benji will reach this mark after one or two years. But, of course, Erling is the top. He has 10 out of 10 from me.”
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
